“The game has changed.” AI triumphs in protein folding

Summary

Artificial intelligence (AI) has solved one of biology’s great challenges: predicting how proteins curl from a linear chain of amino acids into 3D shapes that enable them to perform life’s tasks. This week, leading structural biologists and organizers of a biennial protein folding competition announced the result from researchers from DeepMind, a UK-based artificial intelligence company. They say the DeepMind method will have far-reaching effects, including helping researchers identify protein-based targets for new drugs. Because contest rules require contestants to disclose enough methods for others to use, organizers say it’s only a matter of months before other groups reach DeepMind success.